REPORT OF CONVENTION HELD IN MANAIA TOWN HALL, AUGUST 5th, 1914.

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 230, 18 August 1914, Page 22

REPORT OF CONVENTION HELD IN MANAIA TOWN HALL, AUGUST sth, 1914.

I he morning session opened at 11 a.m. .by the singing of the* National Anthem and “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” Prayer was offered by Mrs Mow'lema Mrs Douglas, of New Plymouth, in the chair. Mrs Patterson, President of the Manaia Union, welcomed the visitors. Mrs Douglas

replied. Mrs X. Jones, of Ngaere, was appointed Recording Secretary, and Miss Maunder, Haw era, Convention Letter Writer; Mrs Mowlem and Mi"s Wilson, Courtesies Committee. Ihe roll-call showed that the following Unions were represented:—Wanganui, Wanganui East, Normanby, N g aere, Stratford, I law era, New Plymouth, Manaia, about 50 members and friends responding to their names. Reporters were elected. Votes of Sympathy passed. Greetings received from our Dominion President (Job 1 :q). The various reports were read. Little Ngaere still tops the* list. The following Unions reported: Wanganui, Wanganui East, Normanby, Ngaere, Stratford, Eltham, Okaiawa, Hawera, New Plymouth, Manaia. Letters from Auroa, Opunake. Noontide prayer was led by Mrs Blamires. Luncheon followed, then afternoon session opened. Mrs Duxfield, Supt. of L.T.L., gave a most interesting paper on L.T.L. work, illustrate*! by charts. A paper on “Womanly Courage” read bv Mrs X. Jones. The Committee of Courtesies then conducted a mock ballot, resulting in 5.N for No-License, 4 for Continuance, and 2 informal. As all in the meeting were strongly in favour of NoLicense, you will see the necessity to still educate! educate! educate ! along this line. Mrs Mowlem th< n gnvc a most touching and inspiring address on “What a Woman Can Do,” which was closely followed. The following resolutions were car ried; — 1. “That it be a recommendation trom this Provincial Convention to the* Dominion Convention that the number of New Zealand departments be considerably reduced, and the work of each bette. defined. For instance, Mothers Meetings and Home Meetings might be advantageously joined, and two or thi 'e other departments worked by one superintendent.” 2. 1 hat the* following be discussed at the annual Convention;—‘That no motion of any importance be passed at the General Convention without the subject in view having first been discussed and approved by the majority of the l nions. Should a matter of importance arise at the General Convention it should be referred back to local 1 nions before any motion he carried,’ ”

$. “That tho Convention pledges itself not to support any member mwilling to vote for the reduction of the three-fifths handicap.’ 4. That this Convention urges the N.Z. Kxerutive to place Mrs Mowlern in this district till election, feeling that in doing >0 it will ensure success ” 5. A resolution praying that N.Z. Kxecutive should detir e the boundari -* for Proviiui.il Convention. 6. “That different Unions be prepared with nominations for Provincial Convention cfticers.” An invitation to hold the next Provincial Convention in New Plymouth was accepted. The following officers were elected for ensuing year: —Pres., Mrs Douglas; Cor. Sec., Miss Ambury; Rec. Sec., Mrs Hruce; Treas., Miss Taunt. Hearty votes of thanks were passe 1 to Mr* Patterson for her valuable work in connection with this Con / ntion. The splendidly attended public meeting the evening was presided over by Mr Bridge. A tine musical programme was presented. Speeches were given, and songs by the children. It was to be regretted that owing to the late hour several speeches had ;o he deleted, including one from Mrs Blamires. Ihe members of the local Union ably supplemented the effort.-* of their President, who thanked those who had so willingly helped to male this gathering a success.